multiple of 4, generally very numerous, inserted in 4 parcels, one of which adheres to the 

 base of each petal ; anthers 2-celled, innate. Ovarium solitary; style short, or none ; stigmas 

 alternate with the placentre, 2 or many ; in the latter case stellate upon the flat apex of the 

 ovarium. Fruit 1-celled, either pod-shaped, with 2 parietal placentae, or capsular, with several 

 placentre. Seeds numerous ; albumen between fleshy and oily ; embryo minute, straight at 

 the base of the albumen, plano-convex cotyledons. — Herbaceous plants or shrubs, with a milky 

 juice. Leaves alternate, more or less divided. Peduncles long, 1-fiowered ; Jlowers never 

 blue. 



Affinities. The siliquose-fruited genera, such as Glaucium and Esch- 

 scholtzia, indicate the near affinity of this order to Cruciferre, from which they 

 differ in the want of a dissepiment to the fruit, in the stamens being indefinite, 

 and in the presence of copious albumen. Through Papaver they approach Nym- 

 phaeaceae, and through Sanguinaria Podophyllum, from all which they are dis- 

 tisguished with facility. Their relationship to Fumariace* is more obscure, 

 and is only to be understood by considering Cruciferae to be their connecting 

 link. The anomalies in the order are of little importance, with the exception 

 of Eschscholtzia, which has its stamens arising from the throat of a flatly 

 campanula te calyx, instead of being hypogynous: this plant, however, may, in- 

 stead of being an exception to the character, be considered as affording a proof 

 that all is not calyx which intervenes between the base of the sepals and the 

 base of the ovarium. I conceive that it would be more natural to understand 

 the apparent base of the calyx of Eschscholtzia as a hollow apex of the pe- 

 duncle ; but if this be admitted, it will become doubtful whether many sup- 

 posed tubes of the calyx are not hollowed peduncles also ; as, for example, Caly- 

 canthus, Rosa, Scleranthus, Margyricarpus, &c. I have already made some 

 remarks upon this subject in the Introduction, which see. A comparison 

 of the structure of Papaveracece and Cruciferre, by Mirbel, is to be found in the 

 Ann. des Sc. 6. 266. o 



Geography. Europe, in all directions, is the principal seat of Papaveraceas, 

 almost two-thirds of the whole order being found in it. Two species only are, 

 according to Decandolle, peculiar to Siberia, three to China and Japan, one to 

 the Cape of Good Hope, one to New Holland, and six to Tropical America. 

 Several are found in North America, beyond the tropic ; and it is probable that 

 the order will yet receive many additions from that region. Most of them are 

 annuals. The perennials are chiefly natives of mountainous tracts. 



Properties. Every one knows what narcotic properties are possessed by 

 the poppy, and this character prevails generally in the order. Their seed is 

 universally oily, and in no degree narcotic. The oil obtained from the seeds of 

 Papaver somniferum is found to be perfectly wholesome, and is, in fact, con- 

 sumed on the continent in considerable quantity. It is also employed exten- 

 sively for adulterating olive oil. Its use was at one time prohibited in France 

 by decrees issued in compliance with popular clamour ; but it is now openly 

 sold, the government and people having both grown wiser. See Ed. P. J. 2. 

 17. Meconopsis napalensis, a Nipal plant, is described as being extremely poi- 

 sonous, especially its roots. Don Prodr. 98. The Sanguinaria canadensis, 

 or Puccoon, is emetic and purgative in large doses, and in smaller quantities is 

 stimulant, diaphoretic, and expectorant. Barton, 1. 37. The seeds of Arge- 

 mone mexicana are used in the West Indies as a substitute for ipecacuanha ; 

 and the juice is considered by the native doctors of India as a valuable remedy 

 in ophthalmia, dropt into the eye and over the tarsus ; also as a good applica- 

 tion to chancres. It is purgative and deobstruent. Ainslie, 2. 43. The Bra- 

 zilians administer the juice of their Cardo santo, Argemone mexicana, to per- 

 sons or animals bitten by serpents, but, it would appear, without much success. 

 Prince JVIax. Trav. 214. The narcotic principle of opium is an alkaline sub- 

 stance, called Morphia. The same drug contains a peculiar acid, called the 



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